Chapter 386: Kenseng Base

Chapter 386: Chapter 386: Kenseng Base

’My body is exhausted, but my mind is wide awake. Why is this happening?!’ Lily Hart was getting frustrated.

As it neared twelve-thirty, Lily Hart finally remembered that she had drunk that pure leaf tea during the day.

’I remember now. Every time I drink this kind of tea, I can’t sleep... Damn it, how could I forget!’

Sighing, Lily Hart resignedly turned over again.

After tossing and turning countless times, Lily Hart was still wide awake. She picked up her Light Brain and called Frost Shaw.

Lily Hart was just looking for a distraction to make the time pass more easily. Trying to force herself to sleep when she couldn’t was just too miserable!

Unexpectedly, he picked up instantly. Frost Shaw’s hoarse, anxious voice came through, "What’s wrong, Lily? Did something happen?"

Lily Hart shook her head, then realized he couldn’t see her and said, "It’s nothing. I can’t sleep, so I thought we could chat."

Frost Shaw’s soft laugh came through the line. ’I’ve heard it plenty of times in person, but why does it sound even better through the Light Brain?’

"Sure, what should we talk about?" Frost Shaw asked.

While Lily Hart was still thinking, Frost Shaw spoke again. "Can I come up?"

"Huh?" Lily Hart was stunned.

"I’m downstairs," Frost Shaw said, a bit cautiously. He was afraid she would refuse, or worse, get upset.

It took Lily Hart a moment to reply. "Alright, come on up."

Frost Shaw assumed that during that brief pause, Lily Hart was getting out of bed or tidying something up.

In reality, Lily Hart was dealing with a clingy Nana, who had jumped onto the bed and refused to leave. What was she supposed to do about that?

When Frost Shaw reached the second floor, Lily Hart was still lying in bed, cuddling Nana.

From Frost Shaw’s perspective, the scene was one of a fragrant, soft Lily Hart nestled in her blankets, petting Nana.

He couldn’t help but swallow. He walked over step by step and crouched down in front of her. "So, wh-what should we talk about?"

Only one lamp was on upstairs, casting a warm, dim yellow light. But Frost Shaw’s eyesight was quite good, so he could see her clearly, which only made him more nervous.

Lily Hart lazily lifted her eyelids and glanced at him. "Anything. Just keep talking."

Back before the apocalypse, she’d gone through a period of intense stress where she couldn’t sleep. She’d discovered an excellent sleep aid back then: playing a TV show in the background.

As long as someone was talking, she could fall asleep much faster.

"Huh?" Frost Shaw was a little confused, but he obediently complied.

He wracked his brain for topics. Figuring this was going to be a long haul, he grabbed a cushion and sat down cross-legged on the floor.

He rested his folded hands on the edge of the bed and started talking. He had no memory of what he said; all he remembered was how beautiful Lily Hart looked with her eyes closed, peacefully ready to sleep.

On the second floor of the convenience store, Roman Rowe rubbed his eyes as he groggily got up to use the bathroom. When he returned, he noticed Frost Shaw’s door was open.

He was about to close it but unconsciously glanced inside. ’Huh, why is the blanket on the floor?’

That woke Roman Rowe up a bit. He poked his head in further. ’Huh, no one’s here? Where did he go this late at night?’

Suddenly, a bold thought flashed through his mind. ’Frost Shaw didn’t go find Boss Hart, did he? No way! It’s too late, Boss Hart must be asleep by now.’

Even though it was just a guess, Roman Rowe couldn’t get back to sleep either. He went back to his bed and tossed and turned.

Frost Shaw had no idea what time he left. He only knew that when he stepped out of the RV, a faint light was breaking on the horizon. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

At nine in the morning, Lily Hart woke up feeling refreshed. She stared blankly at her headboard. ’Why are there two Light Brains? This one looks like Frost Shaw’s.’

’He was here? Last night?’

Lily Hart felt a bit fuzzy. She checked her own Light Brain’s call history and found it. ’Oh, I called him a little after midnight.’

’Oh, right, he came to help me sleep. I remember now.’

After freshening up, Lily Hart went downstairs carrying both Light Brains. She saw Roman Rowe busy in the kitchen and casually asked, "Where’s Frost Shaw?"

Roman Rowe spun around to look at her in disbelief. He was holding a white porcelain plate with a freshly made chicken cutlet sandwich on it, which he had been about to bring out for her.

"You... you! And... and Frost Shaw!" Roman Rowe exclaimed, his expression a mixture of heartbreak and outrage, as if witnessing a great scandal.

"Huh?" Lily Hart was confused. Seeing his hands trembling, she worried the sandwich would fall off the plate, so she took it from him and started eating without another word.

Just then, Frost Shaw walked in. He saw the two of them standing face to face, apparently in the middle of a conversation. He could only see Roman Rowe’s expression. Feigning nonchalance, he took a little stroll past them.

Lily Hart handed him his Light Brain. "You left your Light Brain at my place last night."

With that, she stuffed it into his pocket and walked out of the kitchen, sandwich in hand.

As if on autopilot, Frost Shaw started to follow her, but Roman Rowe grabbed him. "You two... you! You two!" Roman exclaimed in disbelief.

"Huh? What’s wrong?" Frost Shaw asked, confused, and frowned at him.

Roman Rowe cut right to the chase. "You went to see Lily last night?"

Hearing this, Frost Shaw scratched his head and answered, a little embarrassed, "Y-Yeah. She said she couldn’t sleep and asked me to chat with her."

Such an honest young man.

Roman Rowe felt like his world was collapsing. While he was diligently minding the store, Frost Shaw had, without him even noticing, made this much progress? Had he already won Boss Hart’s favor so quickly?

’Did they kiss? Did they hug?’

Just the thought of it made Roman Rowe’s heart ache.

Seeing Roman Rowe lost in thought, Frost Shaw didn’t pay him any mind, simply walking around him to start making his own breakfast.

After a while, Roman Rowe snapped out of his reverie, draped an arm over Frost Shaw’s shoulder, and whispered, "So, what’s the deal with you two now?"

"What deal? It’s the same as always," Frost Shaw replied, his tone tinged with melancholy. ’What deal could there be? I’m just someone whose existence isn’t even acknowledged.’

Roman Rowe felt a bit relieved to hear that, but their progress still seemed a little too fast. He didn’t want to see things develop like this.

’Weren’t things more fun before, when we were all secretly competing for her affection and getting jealous? By what right does he get to be one step ahead?’

’He ruined the whole vibe! Hmph!’

Roman Rowe stood blankly in the kitchen, his mind a jumble of chaotic, uncomfortable, and altogether complicated thoughts.

Frost Shaw finished his breakfast and had already taken it out, leaving the dazed Roman Rowe behind. After a long while, Roman Rowe made himself another sandwich and began chewing on it absently.

He wandered out in a daze, completely oblivious to Frost Shaw’s scrutinizing gaze, which seemed to be probing for something. His mind drifted aimlessly as he chewed.

He was snapped out of it by Diana Sharp’s voice. "Lily, someone just scratched a night market food machine!"

All three of them whipped their heads around, and Roman Rowe’s thoughts snapped back to the present.

Before Lily Hart could even get up, Diana Sharp cried out again, "Someone else just got one! That’s two night market food-making machines!"

Lily Hart: "Wow! That’s amazing! Are the people at this base blessed by the food gods or something?"

No one at the last few bases managed to scratch one, but as soon as they get here, two pop up. It was hard for her not to suspect it was an issue with the people themselves. ’Though, didn’t the other bases have first-prize winners?’

That’s right. This was a new base, called Kenseng Base.